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Wexley Corwin Injury & Wrongful Death Law

For families, whenever you need it

Plain guides for the weeks after a serious injury or a death. You don't need to hire us, or anyone, to use them.

The first 30 days

If someone you love has just been badly hurt, these six steps protect your family while you focus on them. None of them need a lawyer.

  1. Take care of the person, and yourself

    Sleep when you can. Accept offers of meals and rides. You will make better decisions rested.

  2. Start a simple journal

    A notebook by the bed is enough. Write down what doctors say, changes you notice, and questions to ask next time.

  3. Keep the paper

    Put discharge papers, bills, insurance letters and receipts in one folder or box.

  4. Say little to insurers

    You may get calls from an insurer. You can say you will call back. Do not give recorded statements or sign releases.

  5. Keep what caused the harm

    A device, a helmet, clothing or a damaged car can be key evidence. Store it safely and do not repair or discard it.

  6. Ask about a social worker

    Hospitals and rehab units have social workers who help with benefits, equipment and going home. Ask for one by name.

Close view of two people holding hands, one pair of hands older than the other

You matter in this too

Families carry the hidden work of a serious injury: the driving, the phone calls, the night worries. It is normal to feel worn down. Ask for help early, and let people bring the meals.

If you are struggling, you can call or text 988 at any hour to talk with someone.

Short guides

Keeping a care journal

What to write down each day, and why a few lines can matter more than any scan.

  • Date, who visited and what they said
  • Changes in mood, memory, sleep, pain or movement
  • Tasks that now need help, and who gave it
  • Questions for the next appointment

Questions to ask the medical team

Short questions that help you understand where things stand.

  • What is the diagnosis today, and what might change?
  • What should we watch for at home?
  • Who is our main contact, and how do we reach them?
  • What equipment and therapy will be needed after discharge?

Money and benefits while you wait

Where families often find help during a long case.

  • Short and long-term disability through an employer
  • Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
  • Medicaid and home and community-based waiver programs
  • Hospital financial assistance and charity care programs

Caring for the caregiver

You matter too. These steps help families last for the long haul.

  • Ask the rehab team about family training before discharge
  • Look for injury-specific support groups, online or local
  • Plan regular breaks, even short ones, and accept help
  • Talk to your own doctor about stress and sleep

After a death in the family

Practical steps for the weeks after a loss, at your own pace.

  • Order several certified copies of the death certificate
  • Find the will and the named executor, if there is one
  • Ask a probate attorney about opening the estate
  • Grief counseling through hospice programs, faith communities or your doctor

Have a question we haven't covered?

Call and ask. There is no charge, and you don't need to have a case in mind.

(412) 555-0164

Words you'll hear

Legal terms, in plain words. Each injury page also explains the medical terms for that injury, like brain injury or spinal cord injury.

Life care plan
A detailed, expert-written list of the care, equipment and services an injured person will need over their lifetime, with how often each is needed.
Contingency fee
A lawyer's fee paid as a share of any recovery. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
Preservation letter
A letter telling a company to keep evidence such as video, records or a vehicle.
Deposition
Questions asked under oath before trial, usually in a lawyer's office, with a court reporter.
Special needs trust
A trust that holds money for a person with a disability without ending their eligibility for certain benefits.
Structured settlement
A settlement paid over time, often through an annuity, instead of all at once.
Personal representative
The person a court appoints to act for the estate of someone who has died.
Statute of limitations
The deadline to file a lawsuit. Missing it usually ends the claim.

When you're ready for a legal conversation

We'll listen first. If there's a case, we'll explain it plainly. If there isn't, we'll still point you to help.

Start a free case evaluation

Or call (412) 555-0164. A person answers 7 days a week, 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

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